Howard Shapiro’s Success in Publishing Books for Children

Life for independent author Howard Shapiro just keeps getting better with his fourth children’s book.

After finding success with his first three children’s books, author Howard Shapiro seems to have nowhere to go but up. Having accomplished his goal of writing characters that adults and kids would be able to relate to in his stories and also achieving self-publishing victory with Hockey Days, Shapiro continues to pursue his love for the written word and the sport of hockey in his new book.

Hockey Player for Life, which was released in October, has garnered positive responses not only from critics but also from people who have read Hockey Player for Life. Shapiro relates: "The feedback I have received from folks at the signings, from the hockey blogging community and from the many pro hockey teams who I have had the privilege to work with has been phenomenal and I couldn't be more appreciative and thankful for their collective time and support.”

Reviews for Hockey Player for Life from The Hockey News, New York Sportscene and Pittsburgh Magazine are nothing short of supportive, with critics calling it “a delightful ode to the love of the game”, an “instant classic”, and a “must-read for all soon-to-be hockey stars.”

Shapiro’s success has also reached the Amazon.com Sales Charts for Children’s Books (People & Places Fiction) and Teens Books (School & Sports Fiction), with Hockey Player for Life ranking top 50. The book has also been nominated in the category of Middle Grade Fiction of the Cybils Award, which is selected by a talented panel of children's and young adult book bloggers.

All these indicate not only the quality of Shapiro’s latest work of sports fiction but also his success as a writer and independent author.

Self Published Author Signs Her Love Letters to Jesus

Felicia LaGrant schedules signing of her self published book in December in South Carolina.

The self published book, Love Letters to Jesus, was initially written as a journal of author Felicia LaGrant’s thoughts of joy and sorrow to Jesus. At first feeling strange and foolish about the exercise, she later on realized that there was a greater purpose for writing her correspondence to the Almighty.

Continuing her letter writing and developing a routine for it helped LaGrant find focus and rhythm in her task of finishing her divine assignment of expressing gratitude to God. However, as she pursued this course, she was met with opposition in the form of pressure, frustration and discouragement – all designed to make her give up writing letters to Jesus.

In pursuit of her goal of encouraging others, LaGrant eventually found herself guided toward the completion of her book. Love Letters to Jesus became the result of the compiled pieces of correspondence she had written, which she published with the book publishing company, Xlibris.

LaGrant is currently enjoying the blessings that resulted from her obedience to writer her letters of gratitude. The release of her self published book signaled the release of the encouragement that comes with her book. Her love letters have now become other people’s love letters of joy and comfort.

Love Letters to Jesus is available at the Xlibris online bookstore.

Felicia LaGrant will have a book signing engagement at Walden Book Store on December 13, 2008 from 12:00 to 6:00 pm at Jasmine Mall in Sumter, South Carolina.

Discounts in Book Publishing, Marketing Services Offered by Book Publisher for November

Xlibris unleashes a set of discounts on their publishing packages and marketing services for aspiring authors.

As Christmas is just around the corner, it is neither too early to start making a wish list nor too late to check it twice. Aspiring authors need to make sure they have added a treat for themselves in that list. With a bunch of discounts Xlibris is taking off of their publishing packages and marketing services, writers are sure to find something nice for themselves as a gift for the holiday season.

The book publisher is offering a 50% discount off their publishing packages for the month of November. This is available for writers who want to publish in their works of fiction, biographies or self-help books in black-and-white; for photographers or children’s books writers who wish to publish in full-color; and for authors with a specific target audience who wish to avail of the specialty packages offered for poetry, science fiction and Christian writers.

For authors who have already published their book, Xlibris offers a 33% discount on their marketing service when writers choose any of the promotional and publicity tools the book publishing company has to offer. These marketing tools will help broaden the exposure and garner more attention for the authors’ books.

Writers and photographers with a desire to publish a book or market their published work can take advantage of these November offers as an ideal gift for themselves. It’s the perfect time for an early and well-deserved holiday treat.

Book Publisher Launches Science Fiction Trilogy Publishing Package

Xlibris introduces publishing package for the science fiction writing community.

Xlibris, the leading book publisher in the industry, recently launched a publishing package tailor-made for science fiction writers. The Science Fiction Trilogy Publishing package is available to writers in the genre who have completed their imaginative tales, giving writers the means to put their work in print and reach their specific audience.

With three options to choose from, writers cannot go wrong with the Xlibris Science Fiction Trilogy Publishing. Choices start with the Sci-Fi Solo, which allows writers to publish a book for only $533. For authors who have conjured up a two-part story, the Sci-Fi Duo is perfect for publishing two books at only $1,000. Finally, the Sci-Fi Trilogy, the zenith of the three packages, enables the writer to publish their trilogy for only $1,333.

The Science Fiction Trilogy Publishing package also includes amazing features. The registration of their books with online resellers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders), targeted science fiction marketing, and a book review on the Yellow30 Science Fiction website are just some of the elements of the sci-fi publishing packages.

More information about the Xlibris Science Fiction Trilogy Publishing package can be found at www.xlibris.com.

Life with Parkinson’s Disease Chronicled in Self Published Book

Author Bonnie McCollough Broadhead recounts her husband’s experience with Parkinson’s disease in this Xlibris published book order to help other who suffer the infirmity.

The Xlibris release, Calvin’s Journey with Parkinson’s, chronicles Calvin Broadhead’s life and his efforts to survive Parkinson’s disease. Author Bonnie McCollough Broadhead brings full attention to her husband’s story and the degenerative disease that has beset Calvin and people in their twilight years.

Parkinson’s disease impairs a person’s motor skills, speech and other motor functions due to the degeneration of the central nervous system. The manifestation of this disease can range from movement disorders to high-level cognitive dysfunction to subtle language problems. It is these symptoms and other experiences that Bonnie details in this self-published book.

Calvin’s Journey with Parkinson’s also highlight’s the title character’s strength and courage throughout his experience of failing health. It is the Bonnie’s intention to bring wisdom pertaining to Parkinson’s disease, so others who suffer the illness can learn from similar circumstances that Calvin went through.

Calvin’s Journey with Parkinson’s is a helpful resource for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and people who have loved ones who suffer from the illness.

Self Published Book Reveals the Susceptibility of Men to Osteoporosis

The Xlibris book “B.O.N.E.S.: Beating Osteoporosis Naturally, Easily, Sensibly” recounts the story of a man who was diagnosed with and overcame osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis has long been known as a woman’s disease that affects their bone mineral density. However, the Xlibris book “B.O.N.E.S.: Beating Osteoporosis Naturally, Easily, Sensibly” reveals that osteoporosis is no longer just a disease that affects women but can also develop in men.

Author Robert Pirello relates his experience with osteoporosis, which is considered a major public health threat for over 44 million Americans beyond the age of 50. In this self-published book, Pirello narrates his encounter with the disease, detailing the impact of the osteoporosis on his life – from diagnosis to cure.

B.O.N.E.S. also follows Pirello’s successful story in beating osteoporosis – from enlisting the help of his doctor, Bernardo Merizalde M.D., to changing his diet – and how he recovered his athletic lifestyle after being cured. He overcame the disease without the help of pharmaceuticals and he believes others can do the same.

This Xlibris release encourages women who are afflicted by osteoporosis and men who are discovering their susceptibility to the disease to face the challenges posed by this ailment. B.O.N.E.S. shows that by improving bone mineral density, one can regain strong bones naturally, easily, sensibly.

Xlibris Published Book Dissects HIV/AIDS and Other Sex Related Diseases

Proper information and prevention considered key in fighting against sexually transmitted diseases in the Xlibris self-published book ‘Know the Dangers of Your Sexual Life’.

‘Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not rare and with worldwide travel, they spread rapidly from one country to another.’ This is the belief advocated by William S. Brothers in the book ‘Know the Dangers of Your Sexual Life’.

Dr. Brothers, in this Xlibris published book, scrutinizes 14 notorious diseases that can be spread by sexual contact, which include gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis and HIV/AIDS. With the aim of providing knowledge on the detection and prevention of STDs, this book is presented in non- or semi-medical terms that the general public and medical professionals can both understand.

‘Know the Dangers of Your Sexual Life’ stresses the significance of early diagnosis, proper treatment and prevention of spread in addressing the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases. The necessity of education, information and awareness is crucial in finding success against STDs, which is why emphasis is given to the recognition of signs and symptoms that cause a person to seek medical attention.

This book promotes prevention and proper information as a weapon against the worldwide spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Life and Loss after Abortion Gets Focus on Xlibris Published Book

The drop in US abortion rates may indicate that fewer women choose to terminate pregnancies, but the book “Motherhood Interrupted” shows that the physical, emotional and ethical impact of abortion still remain.

Abortion is one of the biggest issues that has created a great divide between Americans. On one side stands the pro-choice camp, who advocates the reproductive rights of women and their control over their fertility and pregnancy, including access to safe and legal abortion. On the other side stands the pro-life camp, who value human life from the time of conception, and who advocates the right to life of the unborn and the eradication of abortion.

Although the rift between these two groups has become wider in the past years, there are indications that the advocacy of one group has reached its intended target and produced desired results. A report released by the Guttmacher Institute – an organization conducting research, policy analysis and public education of sexual and reproductive health issues – supports this observation. Researchers state that abortion rates in the United States have decreased 33 percent since 1974, attributing this to a drop in teenage pregnancies and the accessibility of affordable contraception and contraceptive methods.

However, there still exists higher rates of abortion in Hispanic women (three times higher) and African-American women (five times higher) that cannot and should not be ignored. And on top of that, there are physical, emotional and ethical ramifications of abortion that leave a lasting impression on the lives of women.

A chronicling of the experiences of women who have had abortion is found in the book “Motherhood Interrupted: Stories of Healing and Hope after Abortion”. In this Xlibris book, Jane Brennan compiles sixteen narratives from women who offer their personal experiences on how abortion affected their lives. The stories reveal the impact of abortion on the individual, relationships and families, and the obstacles they overcame after having gone through an abortion.

This self-published book zeroes in on America’s secret sorrow – abortion – and paves the way for women to find healing and hope after experiencing what they now call the darkest moments of child loss through choice. Every woman – and their loved ones – can learn the valuable lessons these sixteen women have had to live through so that no one else will have to.

Insider View of Fibromyalgia Detailed in Self-Published Book

Marilyn Sue chronicles her life with fibromyalgia in the Xlibris book, Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a physical disorder characterized by chronic, widespread pain and sensitivity to light touch. Symptoms to this disease can include moderate to sever fatigue, painful response to gentle touch, muscle aches, chronic sleep disturbances, functional bowel disturbance and nerve pain.

Although FM is not contagious or life threatening, studies have suggested that people suffering the disease may be predisposed genetically. Stress, sleep disturbances and dopamine abnormality are some of the possible causes that may bring the onset or worsen fibromyalgia.

At the moment, there is no generally accepted treatment for FM. Although many in the pharmaceutical and medical fields have claimed to have found a cure for the disease, only Lyrica, a nerve pain drug manufactured by Pfizer, has been approved as a treatment for fibromyalgia.

The symptoms identified with FM may vary in severity and their fluctuating intensity can cause light discomfort to sever pain in people diagnosed with the disorder.

One such case of a woman who is living with fibromyalgia is documented in the book “Fibromyalgia Syndrome – Fighting the Devil with the Patience of Job: a Victim's Point of View and Survivor's Guide”. In this Xlibris release, author Marilyn Sue describes her efforts to learn as much as she could about FM and how she came to terms with the fact that knowledge of the syndrome wasn’t enough in gaining control of her personal situation.

Sue presents her personal views, experiences and opinions on the fibromyalgia from a patient’s point of view, therefore giving readers of the book and other sufferers of FM an insider’s vantage point of the disease. The author’s extensive research on the disease, as presented in the self-published book, will surely benefit not only those who are inflicted with the physical disorder, but also those who are in close connection with people who have FM.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome is a helpful resource for persons battling the disease, an indispensable guide for individuals wading their way through the symptoms of the syndrome, and an encouraging story of determination and perseverance in the face of a great challenge.

Pirates Depicted Honorably in Xlibris Children’s Book

Al Katar, in his children’s book “Captain Scratch: The Island of Sirmarj”, presents a different kind of pirate story with a different kind of pirate.

Everybody enjoys a good pirate story every now and then. There is something mysterious about these seafaring legends that make them interesting characters in books. Their reputation as looters and raiders of other sea vessels also lend to the popularity – and notoriety – of pirates, even in films.

Literature and media have mostly depicted pirates as ruthless and often two-dimensional characters, but in the Xlibris book “Captain Scratch: The Island of Sirmarj”, author Al Katar seeks to portray pirates in a different light.

Written as a book for children, Captain Scratch: The Island of Sirmarj tells the story of an 18th Century pirate who, unlike most of his contemporaries, is armed with a willingness to help people – children in particular – with their daily needs. Captain Scratch is an adventurer of the seas and his crew of four, which include an orangutan named Joe, aids him in his travels. The titular character is also a well-respected sailor and trade merchant who moves goods from one island to another.

This self-published children’s book presents an adventure story and a pirate with a twist, as Captain Scratch demonstrates trustworthiness, intelligence, reliability and helpfulness – character traits that are not usually identified with pirates.

Captain Scratch: The Island of Sirmarj is available on Xlibris.com. A portion of the sales of this book will go to classroom material funding.